Power feed arrangement using aggregate segments

ABSTRACT

A power feed arrangement for aggregate segments of a communications system is disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, cables are used to communicatively connect a number of landmasses, where the cables also serve to carry electrical power to devices connected along lengths of the cables. A first cable is connected to first and second landmasses, while a second cable is connected to second and third landmasses. On the second landmass, the electrical power conductors of the first and second cables are electrically connected to one another, and pieces of power feed equipment located on said first and third landmasses are used to supply electrical power to devices located along lengths of the first and second cables. Alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of communications in which signals are carried over extended distances. In particular, the present invention relates to undersea communications networks, and the equipment forming such networks. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to the way in which electrical power is supplied to the various components of such communication systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The ability to transmit data over vast distances has become critical in today's Information Age. Geographic boundaries, such as oceans, are no longer considered to be impediments to communication.

In trans-oceanic communication systems, a cable, having sufficient armor and insulation against underwater hazards, is typically laid across the ocean floor, sometimes for hundreds, or even thousands, of miles. At each end, the cable extends out of the ocean, onto land, and eventually into a cable station. In the cable station, the cable is connected to communications equipment that is capable of detecting the various signals transmitted via the cable. These signals are then received, processed, and routed to their final destination using land-based communication networks.

While the first trans-oceanic networks relied on cables containing metal wire (e.g., copper wire), modern developments in communications technology have yielded a new favorite: the optical fiber. An optical fiber has a much greater transmission capacity than its metal-based counterparts, and offers many additional advantages as well. For example, optical fiber tends to weigh less than metal wire, and is not susceptible (and does not cause) electromagnetic interference. While optical fiber does have its drawbacks (e.g., limited bend radius, difficulty of splicing), these drawbacks are not usually a problem in undersea networks, which can span hundreds of miles with straightforward routing and minimal post-installation splicing or modification.

FIG. 1 a is a schematic diagram that shows a basic point-to-point optical communication segment between two points. Each point has a cable station 101 a, 101 b that is connected to a cable 102 which contains one or more optical fibers through which optical signals may be sent. Modern optical technology, however, cannot feasibly produce perfect optical fibers, and as a result, optical signal degradation is inevitable. This degradation puts a limit on the length of the optical fibers within cable 102, and typical optical fibers are limited to under 500 km.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic diagram that shows a modified point-to-point optical communication segment that employs an optical repeater 103 to extend the range of the optical fibers in cable 102. Optical repeater 103 simply receives incoming wavelengths of light from the optical fibers within a first section 102 a of the cable, amplifies the light using, for example, erbium-doped fiber and an optical pump, and then transmits the amplified light using the optical fibers in the next section 102 b of the cable. An exemplary optical repeater is the one used in the SL2000 underwater optical system, manufactured by AT&T. Using such a system, a large number of repeaters 103 may be used to extend the range between the two points up to 9,000 km.

The optical repeater 103 requires electrical power to operate, but is not typically located near a power source. To overcome this problem, the repeater 103 receives its electrical power via the cable 102. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of a typical optical cable 102. The cable 102 includes one or more layers of insulation or armor 201. Within the cable 102, there may be any number of individual optical fibers 202, each of which has its own insulation, cladding and core (not shown). At the center of the cable 102 is a power conductor 203, and it is this power conductor 203 that supplies the repeater 103 with its power. Other cable designs having data carrying lines, such as optical fibers, and a power conductor have also been used.

Referring to FIG. 3, all of the repeaters 103 along a cable 102 may be powered in series by a constant current supplied on the power conductor 203 of cable 102. This constant current is provided by power feed equipment (PFE) 301 a, 301 b located at both ends of the cable 102, as shown in FIG. 3. For the AT&T SL2000, a 48 volt battery power source is used to generate a constant current of 0.92 amps with a maximum voltage of +/−7500 volts at each PFE 301 a, 301 b. The power conductor 203 (within cable 102) is connected to a positive terminal at one PFE 301 a, and a negative terminal at the other PFE 301 b. At each PFE, the terminal that is not connected to the power conductor 203 is connected to a ground potential, typically the ocean itself, to complete the circuit.

As the demand for communications services grows, more and more undersea communication segments are added. These segments may be “non-repeatered,” as shown in FIG. 1 a, or they may be “repeaterred,” as shown in FIG. 1 b. Each segment is installed having the necessary equipment (PFEs, branching units, repeaters, etc.) to sustain communications between two (or more, if branching units are used) cable stations, such as cable stations 101 a and 101 b. This results in power feed configurations such as the one shown in FIG. 4. In the FIG. 4 system, a first undersea communications segment 401 is located between landmasses A and B, and powered by PFEs 403 and 404, while a second segment 402 is located between landmasses B and C, and is powered by PFEs 405 and 406.

The system shown in FIG. 4 provides communication services between inland communication networks on landmasses A, B and C. Unfortunately, the high cost of installing and operating such segments usually limits the number of segments that can be installed. For example, in FIG. 4, landmass D is not connected to any of landmasses A, B and C. Accordingly, there is a need for configurations, methods and systems which reduce the cost of undersea communication segments, and which may allow additional segments to be installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method that can reduce the cost of installing and operating communication systems having multiple segments. In a preferred embodiment, two segments connect a first landmass to two other landmasses. On the first landmass, the power conductors of the two segments are coupled to one another, and the two segments are powered by power feed equipment located on the two other landmasses. It may then be possible to power the two segments without using power feed equipment on the first landmass.

In a preferred embodiment of a method of the present invention, communication systems may be designed and installed such that intermediate power feed equipment on the first landmass described above are not necessary for the two segments. In an alternate embodiment, a new segment being connected to a landmass having an existing power feed equipment can be installed on the landmass without needing a new piece of power feed equipment on the landmass.

SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are schematic diagrams that show typical point-to-point communication systems used in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a typical optical fiber as used in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram that shows the power feed configuration used in prior art communication networks.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram that shows an extended power feed configuration used in prior art communication networks.

FIG. 5 is a simplified view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 b is a simplified view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are simplified views of steps according to a method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a landmass 501, which may be an island, continent, etc., is shown having inland communication networks 502 a and 502 b. Communication networks 502 a and 502 b may include any number of devices that are communicatively coupled for transmission and/or reception of data signals. Exemplary communication networks 502 a and 502 b may be telephone networks, cable television networks, computer networks (e.g., the internet), or the like.

The communication networks 502 a and 502 b are connected, via data signal lines 503 a and 503 b, respectively, to cable station 504. Within cable station 504, the data signal lines 503 a and 503 b may be directly coupled to the data signal carrying portions of cables 505 a and 505 b, respectively. Alternatively, some or all of the data signal lines 503 a and 503 b may be of a different nature, or carry different signals, from the data signal carrying portions of cables 505 a and 505 b. For example, the data signal lines 503 a and 503 b, or a portion thereof, may carry electrical signals, while the corresponding data signal carrying portion of cables 505 a and 505 b may be optical. In this alternate embodiment, some or all of the data signals will need to be converted, using any known devices for conversion between the two formats for transmission on these lines.

Cables 505 a and 505 b may be optical in nature, and may have structures similar to that shown in FIG. 2. Cables of different structures may also be used, provided they have a data signal carrying portion and an electrical power carrying portion. The power conductors of cables 505 a and 505 b may be electrically connected to one another using power connector 506. Power connector 506 may be of any type of conductive wiring or cabling that is acceptable for carrying the electrical power signals carried on the power conductors of cables 505 a and 505 b. For example, the power connector 506 may be an insulated copper cable of sufficient gauge to carry the current carried on the power conductors of cables 505 a and 505 b. Alternatively, the power connector 506 may be accomplished using a length of cable identical in cross-sectional structure to the cables 505 a and 505 b, where the power conductor in this length of cable is used as power connector 506. In a further aspect of this alternate embodiment, the data signal carrying portion of this length of cable may simply be left unused.

If desired, some or all of the data signal carrying portions of cables 505 a and 505 b may also be connected to one another to allow, for example, communications between communication networks of landmasses A and B. The data signal carrying portions of cables 505 a and 505 b may also be connected to one another through an additional device, such as a splicer, to allow communication between networks 502 a, 502 b and any of the networks of landmasses A and B.

From cable station 504, cables 505 a and 505 b extend out of landmass 501, into the water (sea, ocean, etc.) and eventually to landmasses A and B, respectively. Cable 505 a (as well as 505 b) need not be a continuous, uninterrupted cable, and may instead be comprised of a number of smaller lengths of cable with devices, such as optical repeaters, connected in between. These devices are not shown in FIG. 5, and for simplicity's sake, cable segment 505 a (and 505 b) is referred to as a “cable.” However, one of ordinary skill in the art of communications will understand that cables 505 a and 505 b, and the cable segments described herein, may include various devices such as repeaters connected along their lengths.

At landmass A, the data signal carrying portions of cable 505 a are connected to a communication network (not shown) located on landmass A. The power conductor of cable 505 a may be connected to a positive terminal of power feed equipment 507 a. Power feed equipment 507 a may be of any commercially available type that is suitable to power devices that may be located along the length of cables 505 a and 505 b. The negative terminal of power feed equipment 507 a may be connected to a ground, such as the ocean itself

A similar construction may be used at landmass B, where the data signal carrying portions of cable 505 b are connected to a communication network (not shown) located on landmass B, and the power conductor of cable 505 b is connected to a negative terminal of power feed equipment 507 b, which is similar to power feed equipment 507 a. The positive terminal of power feed equipment 507 b may also be connected to a ground, such as the ocean itself.

In this configuration, the power feed equipment 507 a and 507 b form an electrical circuit using the grounds, the cables 505 a and 505 b, and the power connector 506. This circuit supplies the current needed to power, in series, the various devices (such as optical amplifiers) that may be connected along the length of cables 505 a and/or 505 b.

In FIG. 5, the cables 505 a and 505 b may have a common landing point 508, defined by the area in which the cables enter landmass 501. Having a common landing point minimizes the area on landmass 501 that must be accessed, and allows the cables 502 a and 502 b to be easily routed to cable station 504, within which the power conductors of the cables may be connected to one another.

In an alternate embodiment (shown in FIG. 5 b), cables 505 a and 505 b may have different landing points, and may each enter different cable stations. In such an alternate embodiment, the power connector 506 may need to be routed over portions of landmass 501 to connect the power conductors of cables 505 a and 505 b. This embodiment, however, may still be preferred over having separate power feed equipment on, for example, opposite sides of an island. The advantages of the preferred embodiment, however, may still be achieved in this alternate embodiment as long as the power conductors of cables 505 a and 505 b are electrically connected to one another.

In FIG. 5, communication networks 502 a and 502 b are shown as being separate from one another. For example, network 502 a may be a cable television network that uses cable 505 a to supply television programming to customers on landmass A. Network 502 b, on the other hand, might be a telephone network that supplies telephone services to residents on landmass B. In this exemplary situation, the two networks 502 a and 502 b may be different from one another, and might not share any data with one another. However, while the cables used to carry their respective signals (505 a and 505 b) do not share data signals, they may nevertheless benefit from the preferred embodiments of the present invention by sharing the electrical power used to power segments 505 a and 505 b.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), networks 502 a and 502 b may in fact be connected to one another, and may comprise a single communication network. For example, networks 502 a and 502 b may both be telephone networks that use a plurality of data signal lines (503 a and 503 b) to communicate with landmasses A and B. These telephone networks may also be configured to communicate with one another, and as a result, may be considered to be a single communication network on landmass 501.

Using the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the devices of two cable segments 505 a and 505 b may be powered by a single pair of power feed equipment 507 a and 507 b, providing significant savings in installing and operating the communication system using these cable segments. In the prior art system of FIG. 4, the two segments are powered by two pair of power feed equipment (403/404 and 405/406), doubling the pieces of required power feed equipment, and increasing the costs of installation and operation.

FIG. 6 shows another alternate embodiment, in which a plurality of segments 601 a, 601 b and 601 c share a single pair of power feed equipment 602 a and 602 b. At landmass B, the power conductors of cables 601 a and 601 b are electrically connected to one another, while at landmass C, the power conductors of cables 601 b and 601C are electrically connected to one another. A positive terminal of power feed equipment 602 a is electrically connected at landmass A to one end of cable 601 a, while a negative terminal of power feed equipment 602 b is connected at landmass D to an end of cable 601 c. Landmasses B and C, however, do not need separate power feed equipment to power segments to which they are connected. Instead, they merely need power connectors 603 a and 603 b to connect the various power conductors of their respective cables. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art of communications that a large number of segments may be “chained” together in this fashion. Each segment in such a “chain” need only have their power conductors connected to allow, for example, electrical current used to power devices located along the various segments 601 a, 601 b, and 601 c. The data signal carrying portions, or lines, of these segments (such as the optical fibers in the cables) need not be connected to one another, and may in fact be isolated from one another.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are basic diagrams that show a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7 a, the power conductor of an existing segment 701 a is shown, where cable 701 a connects the communication networks of landmasses A and B (not shown). The power conductor of cable 701 a is connected to a positive terminal at power feed equipment 702 a on landmass A, and a negative terminal at power feed equipment 702 b on landmass B. It is then desired to connect the communication network(s) of landmass C to those of A, B, or both.

In FIG. 7 b, an additional cable 701 b having a power conductor is installed between landmasses B and C. An additional piece of power feed equipment 702 c is installed at landmass C to provide a negative voltage connection for cable 701 b, while power feed equipment 702 b is disconnected from the power conductor of cable 701 a. Power feed equipment 702 b might be removed, sold, and/or otherwise disposed of as being no longer needed. In an alternative embodiment, power feed equipment 702 b might be removed, modified, and installed on landmass C to serve as power feed equipment 702 c.

The power conductor of cable 701 a is electrically connected to the power conductor of cable 701 b. When segment 701 b is installed, the current supplied by power feed equipment 702 a and 702 c must be used by more devices than before, to account for the devices, such as optical repeaters, that may be connected along segment 701 b. Accordingly, it may be necessary to modify power feed equipment 702 a when segment 701 b is installed. The exact modifications will depend on the particular model of power feed equipment used at 702 a, and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of communication systems.

As shown in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, and as described above, an additional segment may be installed using the present invention while only adding a single additional power feed equipment. An additional piece of power feed equipment may not even be needed if an existing piece of power feed equipment can be modified and transferred. This provides significant cost savings in expanding and operating communication systems.

A preferred embodiment, along with several alternative embodiments, has been described above. However, it will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that one or more of the advantageous features of these various embodiments may be rearranged and combined to form various alternate embodiments that are based on the teachings disclosed herein. To determine the proper scope of the present invention, reference should be made to the appended claims. 

1. A system for providing communications between communication devices located on different landmasses, comprising: a first landmass having at least a first communication device and a first piece of power feed equipment having positive and negative terminals located on the first landmass; a second landmass separated from said first landmass by a first body of water, said second landmass having at least a second communication device and a second piece of power feed equipment having positive and negative terminals located on the second landmass; a third landmass separated from said first and said second landmasses by at least a second body of water, said third landmass having at least a third communication device; a first cable including at least one data signal carrying line carrying optical data signals between said communication devices of said first and said third landmasses and a first electrical power conductor connected to said positive terminal of said first piece of power feed equipment; a second cable including one or more data signal carrying lines carrying data signals between said communication devices of said second and said third landmasses and a second electrical power conductor connected to said negative terminal of said second piece of power feed equipment, wherein an end of said first cable and an end of said second cable enter onto said third landmass at a common landing point and are routed to a cable station on said third landmass; a third electrical power conductor, located in said cable station on said third landmass, permanently connecting said first and said second electrical power conductors such that power is supplied to said first and said second electrical power conductors exclusively by said first and said second pieces of power feed equipment; and a first plurality of data signal carrying lines carrying electrical data signals, communicatively coupled to said at least one data signal carrying line of said first cable using a converter for converting between optical and electrical signals, and further communicatively coupled to said third communication device of a first communication network located on said third landmass.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said negative terminal of said first piece of power feed equipment and said positive terminal of said second piece of power feed equipment are electrically connected to a ground potential.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second cables carry optical signals, and each includes one or more optical repeaters, wherein said optical repeaters are powered exclusively by said first and said second pieces of power feed equipment.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one data signal carrying line of said first cable is communicatively isolated from said signal carrying lines of said second cable.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one data signal carrying line of said first cable carries different signals from signals carried on said at least one data signal carrying line of said second cable.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and said second electrical power conductors include an insulated copper cable.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and said second electrical power conductors include a power conductor of a connector cable segment, said connector cable segment comprising one or more lines configured for carrying data signals. 